Timely remark by the Senior Vice Rector of the University of Nicosia during an event in Larnaca, where the possibility that Mental Health could be the next Pandemic was emphasized.
“Mental health is one of the most significant challenges for the healthcare systems of EU member states,” emphasized Professor Konstantinos N. Fellas, Senior Vice Rector of the University of Nicosia, in a timely presentation during an event in Larnaca titled “We Can Do Better: Mental Health in the Workplace.” Professor Fellas clarified that according to credible reports, mental disorders, especially depression, constitute a major cause of disability worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, 5% of the global population lives with depression, with women, young people, and the elderly being more susceptible.”
In his presentation on the topic “The Psychosocial Legacy of the Pandemic on Youth,” Professor Fellas initially provided a summary of the frightening and unprecedented impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic that affected large segments of the Cypriot population and severely tested everyone, creating the impression that “we were now trapped in an extended nightmarish ordeal.” He spoke of anger, despair, uncertainty, fear, loneliness, and social exclusion that emerged as a result of the pandemic, while noting that the scientific community had warned about the short-term and long-term consequences on our mental health.
He reminded that a nationwide study conducted in 2022 by the University of Nicosia and the Cyprus Youth Organization revealed various negative emotions prevailing among the youth as a consequence of the pandemic. “A thousand young people aged 14-35 from all over Cyprus participated in the survey. 46% of them reported that their mental health deteriorated due to the pandemic,” he said. Furthermore, he added that 71% of young people aged 14-17 declared that their mental health was adversely affected, while 29% of the same age group expressed the need for psychological support since the beginning of the pandemic.
He didn’t fail to address the negative experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals during the pandemic. “A scientific study by the University of Nicosia and ACCEPT organization documented anxiety, melancholy, depression, loneliness, panic attacks, and suicidal tendencies. They felt ‘disconnected’ from the LGBTQ+ community, admitting that they struggled without this vital support network,” he emphasized.
Professor Fellas spoke about what children, their families, and educational staff faced upon their return to school, emphasizing that school is an ideal space to create bridges of communication and dialogue with children.
“We must speak to them honestly and treat them like young adults. Strengthening the mental resilience of children and cultivating optimistic thoughts and values are collective tasks that undoubtedly require the cooperation not only of educators and parents but the entire school, the relevant ministry, and various relevant bodies to help children adjust to the post-pandemic era,” he suggested. As he pointed out, adequate support from the state, the activation of appropriate structures, and the development of supportive programs are essential to heal the wounds caused by the pandemic.
He elaborated on the harsh consequences of the pandemic not only in Cyprus but worldwide, especially for young people whose lives were disrupted, filled with pervasive fear, forced isolation, imposed loss of their freedoms, sudden disruption of their school routines, distancing from their hobbies, and beloved friends. He concluded his speech by emphasizing that we must make education and training an absolute priority, reevaluating and reconsidering the intended role of the educational system beyond success in examinations, seeking to reconnect education with the mental world of young people.
“The legacy we owe to the new generation is the education to empower young men and women to be autonomous, casting off indifference and disdain, and turning towards cultivating a strong desire for progress and development,” he stressed.
The event where Professor Fellas spoke was organized by the Europe Direct Information Center of Larnaca Municipality and the Delegation of the European Commission in Cyprus, under the patronage of the Member of the European Parliament and rapporteur for the European Year of Skills, Loukas Fourlas.
Source: παιδεία news